Automatic train-pipe coupling.



' li'eneaaea' P. HIBN.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE GO-UPLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26 1906.

PATENTED DEC. s, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. HIEN.

. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING." APPLICATION FILED PEB ZB IQOG.

' TATENTEI) BBQ-3,1901:

2SHIiETS-SHEET2. v I

A I IHHIIII IlHll lll IIIH n STATES PAEENT, OFFICE? IPHILLIP HIE'N', F 'ciiicAco', LLinois,

AU'roi/m'rrc TRAIN-PIPE coUP mG;

to. 872,514. I

$pecification of Letters Patent.

a -mm retalia e. 1906.: a 110.302.9023.

' Patented Dec. 3,

To all whom it mag "concern: 1 Be it known that I, PHIL IP HIEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago,

countyof Cook, State of Illinois, have in- 1S vented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic .;;Train-Pipe Couplings, and declare thefollowin to be a full,- clear,

and exact description oi the same,- s'uch'as will enable others skilled in the art to which In automatic train pipe couplings the gaskets in which the pipes terminate should only be brou ht into en agement when in 26 alinement, and should be liept out of. contact with each other during their relative movement into and out of engagement so as tov rotectthem from being torn outof the copping heads and to prevent their beirr so worn 30 by usage as to permit leakage; T 1e coupling heads should also be so tightly held in engagement that the relative movement be.-

tween the adjacent ends of the coupled cars will produce no movement between the registerlng gaskets. it e The primary object of niy invention is to provide an automatic train pipe coupli 0 which will protect from injury the termina aske ts of, the pipes incoupling and uncoup- 40 ling, which will move the gaskets'directly to I wards and away from each other as they couple and unc ouple and which will retain the alinedgaskets in close contact free from any relative movement.

i 7 A further object of my invention is to provide an improved automatic train pipe couplingwhich Wlll be comparat vely simple 1n---- ("(IHSUUGUOHY inexpensive in "manufacture and eflicient in operation.

The embodiment of my invention herein disclosed may be generall described as com-" prising a supporting brac et de ending from and rigidly connected to the .raw bar of a car, a drum' extending through and longitus5 dinally' movable but-non-rotativefwith reon said-con ling head, a spring hereinafter with reference to the accompany ing drawings in which the sani is illustrated sectional view showing the s ect to said bracket, a couplin nead rig- Y i ly supported at the'outer" end 0? said drum and having an inclined surface in whichrthe train pipes terminate, a flaring guide surface I int-er osed between sai bracket and the coupling ead,

. a projection on the coupling surface adapted 'to be engaged by the coupl ng surface on the cooperating coupler for retaining thegas'kets I out of contact when coupling and uncoupsimilar .ribs and grooves'in another coupler;

and a spring adapted to be engaged by a lug on the end of the coupling surface of a co operating coupler to retain the coupling suri'aces'on the engaged couplers in close contact. V 1

M invention will be more fully described as embodied in a convenient form, and .in which,-' q Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing so much of the'draw bars and car frames as is necessary to illustrate the connection of v I my invention therewith; Fig. 2 a horizontal e couplin s on adjoining cars interlocked; ig. 3 a iont elevational view of one ofthe cou lings; Fig. 4 a sectional view .on line 44 ig. 3; p nd Fig.5 a cross sectional view on line 5-5 The same reference characters are used to designate'the same .partsin the several figures of the drawings. r 2

Referenbe-characters A Afldesign-ate the longitudinal center sills of two cars united by j and practical means of the draw bar couplersCO' c,' c designate mechanism for lifting thev locking ins, of the draw bar couplers. i

c c" esignate the yokes'or straps which are rigidly-connected to the inner ends C C of the draw bars, and surround the draft gear and buffing apparatus. v

a IQO The foregoing constructionsare well known inthe art and need not be further described in detail .1

,The train ipe cou ling mechanism'is the same oh eacii'car and necessary to describe in-jdetail the mec ism applied to one car. v

D indicates-a bracket forsupporting the train pipe couplin and comprises'an'arm D extending upwar 1y to the under surface 110 65 ling, the coupling, surface having'ribs and corresponding rooves for interlocking with hence it will 0111i: be

- it extends in the bracket.

' from the spring.

signal, and the third of the draw bar coupler C to which it is secured in any suitable manner by means of screws d. v

D indicates an arm extending rearwardlyfrom the bracket D which engages at its inner end the lower end of the yoke c.

D indicates a collar formed in two parts secured around the draw bar adjacent the ends of the yoke c.

d indicates a bolt for securing the two parts of the collar together above the draw bar While a" indicates a bolt securing the two arts of the collar together below the draw mr and for also supporting the inner end of the arm D The bracket D is consequently securely attached to the draw bar so as to move therewith relatively to the car frame. By providing the arms D I) the bracket may be secured to the draw bar of any standard car without requiring any change in the present construction thereof. r

F indicates a drum extending through a single opening in the bracket D. The drum F is provided with longitudinal grooves [therein into which extend projections 65 on the bracket D, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The drum is consequently permitted to move longitudinally relativelyto the bracket and to swing laterally with respect thereto owing to the cross section of the drum being slightly less than the opening through which The 006 cratingrejections cl and groovesfprevent the drum rom rotatin I within the bracket, but permit a slight oscill atory movement.

At the outer end of the drum F is a coupling head E between which and the bracket D is interposed a spring G. In order that the tension of the spring maynot disengage the drum from the bracket a suitable stop, such for instance as a in g extends through the drum on the opposlte side of the bracket The coupling head is provided with an inclined cou ling surface E through which ports extend forming terminals ofthe train'pipes. Short sections of pipe L are secured in the ports in the coupin surface E and surrounding the ports are as ets Z located in seats in the coupling surface. Short sections of hose are secured around the pipe sections L in any suitable manner, as for instance The free ends of the hose sections N are pro vided with the usual forms of metallic hand couiplings o-which are adapted to interlock wit similar cou lingson the ends of the usual sections of ose O which depend from the ends of the metallic pipes P. The pipes P are usually three in number, one for actuatingithe brakes, another for operating the for steam. Such pipes are usually provided with angle cocks p at the ends thereof.

The coupling surface 'E is provided with a lug e and a-corresponding slot P The end by clamping rings n.'

V exact registry.

of the coupling" surface is rovided with ribs 6 6 while the portion t ereof above and below the lug e is provided with corresponding grooves e, e. The forward end e of the coupling surface is wedge-shaped conforming to a wedge-shaped pocket e formed in the coupling head at the rear of the grooves 6 K indicates a leaf spring one end of which is rigidly secured to a block H carried at the rear end of the drum F. A bolt 72. extends through the spring K, the block H, and rear end f of the drum. Pins h are preferably provided on the block H which enter recesses in the supporting portion of the drum. In order that the spring may be securely at tached to the block a clip c is interposed between the spring and the head II of the bolt. The spring K extends through an opening in the flaring guidingsurface E which projects from the coupling head E. The extreme. end is of the spring over-laps a flange on the flaring guide i The operation of my invention is as follows: The bracket D is secured to the draw bar by inserting the screws'd through the arm 1) into engagement with the coupler head and by securing the collar D around the shank of the draw bar with the end of the arm D against the end of the yoke thereby transferring the strain imposed upon the bracket D to the end of the yoke. The drum F is inserted through the opening in the bracket and the in g secured in position to prevent the with rawalof the drum from the bracket. The spring K together with the block H is then secured to the extension on the rear of the drum by means of the bolt Ii. The tension of the spring G pro'eets, the pipe coupling slightly-beyond the d gether and the draw ally coupled, the coupling surfaces of the pipe couplings .will engage and place the springs G around the respective drums under tension. This tension of the springs G serves to at'all times retain the pipe cou lings in close contact. In order that tie pipe couplings may interlock, each is pro vided with. the laterally upwardly and downwardly flaring'guide E" which receives the point e of the cob )erating coupling. consequently even though the pipe couplings on the adjoining cars are not in horizontal or vertical alinement, the flaring guides will insure the coupling surfaces being brought into The wedge-shaped end e on 'each coupler is forced into the wedgeshaped pocket 0'' on the cooperating coupling, thereby retaining the coupling surfaces in tight engagement. The engagement be tween the lug e on each coupler with the spring K on the cooperating coupler also serves to retain the coupling surfaces in contact.

In order that the coupling surfaces will be raw bar' .coupler so that when the cars are forced tobars thereof 8.Ut()l118.tl0

their relative movement in ling thereby preventing each coupling surface 5 around 'tfiqouterjehd held apart'during coupling or uncoup wear upon" the gaskets is provided with ribs:

thereof and with a what I c cars will produce no movement between the coupled surfaces in which the trainpipes terminate. v.

Having now fully described invention,

Letters Patentis:

nt, arereceiv'ed within respectively'on' ing surfa'cl thereby" be brought; h t bservedthatfirsjt ently the lugs e retain tilthe gaskets are in. permitted to ,come' the ribs being red the lugs in the re-I 1; between the ribs' ts 'thecoupled sur= latively while coupled.

e ends of the coupled cars produces no move d surfaces, but, is y the play between the and recesses e oupled and are lings are discon- 1. vThe combination witha railroad car, of

imas'newand desire' to'secure by.

a'train pipe coupling head supported'beneath said icapfacoupling surfaceon said. head-in 'whlchlt e train prpesternunate, means for holdin'g'said coupling surface out of contact w th-a cooperatlng coupling surface during the "relative movement of the surfaces in coupling and uncoupling, and means for fore: 1

ing:the-alined-terminals of the train pipes into close contact,.said latter means comprising a'flaring guidehaving a resilientwall.

2. The combination witha railroad car, of V a train pipe coupling head supported beneath said car, a coupling surface on said head in which the train pi es-terminate, ribs on said coupling surface a apted to engage a cooper-1 ating coupling surface during the movement of the surfaces into and out ofengageinent,

said coupling surface havirig grooves therein to receive said ribs when the train pipe ter .i'nlnals 111 the res ective coupllng surfaces nected by reason of the pins g engaging the adjacent brackets moving with the .re quently away from When only one 0 provided with an the usual sections 0 vided with the autom detached from the sec automatic coupling an h results in. the drums.- spective cars and conse-- f'the two coupled cars is atic pipe coupling. f hose 0 on the car proatic pipe coupling, tions of hose of d are connected in the aline, and means or retaining the coupling surfaces in contact. I

3. The combination with a railroad car,of a train pipe coupling head supported beneath said car' a coup'ling surface on said head in which the train pipes terminate, rib s on said coupling surface,,a;lug on said coupling sur-- face at the rear of saidribs, said coupling surface having grooves corresponding to said ections of hos'e'O on It is therefore evident a car provided with y be readily usual manner with t the adjoining car. that the train pip'es on c coupling ma usual manner with .car or may be coupled N of thetautomatic ting the necessity of ipped with my improvef sections'of hose, one

1erand the coupled inthe pipes on an adjoining to the sections of pipe coupler, thereby providing a car equ ment with two sets 0 leading .to the other forfuse w provided with my ii'npr automatic coup hen the adjoining car ribs and a recess corresponding to said lug whereby when coo crating coupling surfaces are moved relative y'in coupling and uncou ling the terminals f the train pipes will e held apart, and means for forcing saidcoupling surface into contact with a cooperating coupling surface when said ribs and lug register with said grooves. and recesses.

.42 The combination with a railroad car, of

v a draw bar operatively connected thereto, of

a bracket depending from and secured to said draw bar, a train pipe coupling head support ed by said bracket so as to move longitudi- 'nally with respect thereto, a coupling surface ,onsaid coupling head in which the train pipes terminate, and a spring inter osed bend springs K cooperate in s in close cpnj-f one would ac.- uently should am will retain The springs G a retaining the coup tact. Either of the s complish the either spring the union int From the foregoing observed that I l automatic train pipe which, the train pipes be automatically the coupling. of th ling surfac result and conse be disabled the 0 act between the coupling description it 'n'ventedan improved coupling by means of ning cars will ted coincidently e draw-bars, in which the the train pipes terminate injury during the crations, and in en thecoupled adj oining car.

will be prcve'nte coupling and uncoupling op which the movement betwe tweensaid coupling head ano sai bracket for retaining said coupling surface in contact with a cooperating coup 5. The combination with a railroadcar of ing 'surface on an a draw baroperatively connected theretoj of a bracketdepending from and secured to saw?! I Y draw bar, a trainpipe coupling head supported by; saidbracket'so-as to move longitude nallywith respect thereto, a couplin surface on'saidcou'f pipes terminate, means on said coupling surng hea'd inwhich t e trainace for retaining the train pipe terminals 13o thereon out of contact with'the terminals on the cooperating coupling surface during the relative movementof such surfaces into and out of engagement, a flaring guide projecting from said coupling head adapted to receive the end of a cooperating coupling surface, and a spring interposed between said bracket and coupling head for retaining the coupling surface thereon in contact with a cooperating coupling surface.

6.- The combination with a railroad car, of a train pipe coupling head supported thereon, a coupling surface on said head in which the train pipes terminate, a lug at the end of said coupling surface, a flaring guide carried by said coupling head having a resilient wall in position to be engaged by the lug on the end of the cooperating coupling surface, and thereby retain said surfaces in close contact.

' 7.' The combination with the draw bar of a i railroad car, of a bracket secured to said i draw bar, a drum extending through an open- I ing in said bracket, ribs on said bracket proj ecting into longitudinal grooves in said drum, a coupling head supported at the outer 4 end of said drum, a coupling surface on said head in which the train pipes terminate, a flaring guide secured to said coupling head, and a spring interposed between said bracket and l said coupling head for retaining the coupling i surface in I ling surface. l In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses. I PHILLIP HIEN. Witnesses: GEo. L. WILKINSON,

(7. A. MULLEN.

contact with a cooperating coup-'- 

